Chapter 2: Welcome To The Machine

  Episode 15: Wish You Were Here

  The Inner Sanctum of Mount Kailash

  The atmosphere within the colossal cavern felt like a paradise plucked from a masterpiece painting. Warm sunlight filtered through the canopy of ancient trees, descending in golden shafts to touch the emerald blades of grass swaying in the breeze. Vibrant insects and butterflies flitted about to the rhythmic murmur of a small stream trickling over mossy rocks. Within the water, schools of ornamental fish darted and swirled as if they hadn't a single care in the world, while birds, mice, and rabbits scurried and fed in blissful harmony with nature.

  The sight of a mother bird feeding worms to her fledglings in the nest was so pure and tranquil that one could easily forget they were deep within the very heart of Mount Kailash. The sky above was so brilliant it was impossible to discern whether it was true daylight or an elaborate imitation.

  But then, that perfection began to falter...

  Victor and Yuri noticed the "Sun" above seemed to be moving with a stutter, like a mechanical gear long overdue for oiling. Suddenly, mysterious stone dust began to drift down from the seemingly infinite azure sky. Cris reached out, catching the dust in his palm, his eyes clouded with confusion.

  “That isn't a real sky...” Cris said, breaking the silence as he stared deeper into the firmament. “My Master once told me that the creators of this cavern simulated it... The Devas and the Brahmas manifested this place under the divine mandates of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and many other deities.”

  Lord Ren’s face flickered with a brief moment of surprise, as if something in Cris’s parting words had sparked a sudden realization. Meanwhile, Cris was the first to unlock and remove his VSS helmet. As the pure, untainted air brushed against his skin, he murmured in a trance-like state, “The freshness in here feels as real as the world outside...”

  Seeing their guide confirm the safety, Victor and Yuri followed suit, stripping off their helmets to finally breathe the open air. The three of them began to venture deeper into the vibrant forest within the cavern, leaving Lord Ren trailing behind, lost in heavy thought.

  He was attempting to reach out... ‘Father... Father...’ Ren focused his mind, projecting his telepathic voice to call for Oon, over and over again. But only silence answered him. ‘I can’t reach him. This place is impeccably shielded, completely severing all external communication,’ Ren told himself with growing concern before hastening his pace to catch up with the others.

  Suddenly, a sharp cracking sound echoed from above. A shower of stone fragments and dust cascaded down right before his eyes, piling suspiciously on the grass below. Ren didn't hesitate; he surged upward, soaring through the massive canopy and accelerating until he reached the cavern's ceiling.

  From this vantage point, he discovered that the vast azure sky seen from below was, in fact, a stone ceiling painted blue and adorned with deceptive clouds. Ren hovered closer to the sun that was shining so brilliantly. It appeared to be a gargantuan, orb-like lamp mounted on a sliding track, driving this simulated sun up and down along a steel rail to mimic the natural cycle of the day. As he scanned the opposite side, he found another track belonging to a simulated moon, still gliding slowly in the near distance.

  “Victor, get up here! Do you understand how these systems work?” Ren shouted, beckoning urgently for Victor to fly up and join him. Seeing the commotion, everyone decided to soar up to the cavern’s ceiling, congregating near the simulated sun.

  “It’s as blinding as the real thing!” Yuri exclaimed, shielding her eyes from the intense radiance emanating from the giant energy orb. “Everything below looks so tiny... Wow, this cavern is truly massive and incredibly high,” Victor remarked, glancing down at the forest floor before moving toward Ren, who was waiting by the sliding track.

  “Look... the track is damaged. If we don’t fix it soon, the entire solar system will collapse,” Ren said with concern, pointing out the cracks and the metallic dust falling from the rails. “But can’t you just create your own fireballs, sir?” Victor asked curiously, having seen Ren wield fire countless times.

  “Everything in here has been meticulously calculated. Do you see the moon over there? Even though they didn't include a system for decorative stars, the cycle is programmed to sync perfectly with the real-time world outside. The most tragic part would be the ecosystem below; it’s far too beautiful to let it fall into eternal darkness,” Ren explained, emphasizing the importance of the simulation’s balance.

  Without delay, Victor moved in to meticulously inspect the various damaged points along the steel rails. “The wiring is degraded... the tracks are worn out from age. Replacing a few parts should bring it back to normal. It’s just like changing a lightbulb at home.”

  “That's all?!” Ren blurted out, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn't expected a system that seemed so complex to him to be diagnosed so simply. “Well, I’ll need a few tools to get it done. But from a quick look, it’s not going to come crashing down immediately,” Victor added, trying to ease everyone's mind.

  “Is there anything we can do as a temporary fix?” Ren asked eagerly, unwilling to see this paradise lose its light.

  “I think it’s better to reinforce it now,” Ren said solemnly, his eyes fixed on the trembling steel rail.

  “Right here is the core of the problem. The bracket securing it to the cavern ceiling has broken away,” Victor explained before diving toward the forest floor where the stone dust had collected. He spent a few moments searching through the tall grass before soaring back up with an object in his hand.

  “Here it is. The steel anchor. It fell straight down—the condition is exactly like a screw that’s slipped out of a degraded wall plug,” Victor detailed as he fitted the component back into its original slot. He then used both hands to heave against the massive steel rail, bracing it with all his strength.

  Ren watched Victor’s movements before swiftly tracing mysterious patterns in the air with both hands.

  “Victor, don't move your hands. Hold it right there... I’ll handle the rest.”

  Suddenly, Ren began to condense a strange form of energy. It appeared as a viscous, grey-black fluid, yet at intervals, it behaved like fine, sentient dust that moved as if it were alive—a Magnetic Fluid. The substance drifted beneath Victor’s palms as he braced the simulated sun’s rail, rapidly seeping into the cracks and fissures of the rock layer.

  “You can let go now,” Ren commanded calmly.

  Victor cautiously withdrew his hands and stood agape. The colossal steel rail was now anchored to the stone ceiling as firmly and seamlessly as a miracle. Everyone was stunned by Ren’s ability, realizing he could manipulate matter far beyond just fire or water.

  “This will only support it for a while,” Victor said, wiping sweat from his brow. “We still need a full system overhaul to get it back to its original condition.”

  “Moo... Moo... Moo... Moo...”

  The resonant lowing of the two giant white bulls guarding the entrance echoed in unison, snapping the attention of everyone hovering near the solar tracks. Cris, with his lightning-fast reflexes, was the first to react. He surged through the air, diving toward the gate while shouting at the top of his lungs.

  “Master is here!”

  At the entrance to the vibrant forest park, the figure of an elderly Lama appeared. His frame was thin and pale, clad in weathered, dark maroon robes and an ancient monk’s hat. His cloth ankle boots were frayed and heavily patched. He walked with a profound, quiet grace past the two white bulls, who acted with immense friendliness and deep reverence toward the old monk.

  The moment Cris reached the ground, he immediately cast himself down in a full Tibetan prostration (Ashtanga Pranam) with the utmost respect. Victor and Yuri, following close behind, quickly knelt and bowed just as Cris had. Only Ren descended slowly, drifting downward at his own pace.

  “So, this is Tenzin...” Ren murmured to himself before coming to a halt on the ground to face the group.

  Master Tenzin lifted his weathered face, etched with deep wrinkles, to gaze at Ren. He saw the being of pure white, standing no taller than a small child at 80 cm, slowly touchdown on the earth. Suddenly, his clouded eyes ignited with a spark of overwhelming joy. “You have returned... Lord Shiva... You have truly returned...” Tenzin rasped, his voice so frail it seemed he barely had the strength to speak. He slowly collapsed to his knees, crawling toward Ren, passing the three who were still bowing, to reach him.

  Ren stood frozen, his face a mask of shock and intense confusion at the title the old monk had bestowed upon him.

  “Who... Shiva?” Ren blurted out, utterly bewildered.

  Master Tenzin froze in his kneeling position just inches away. He peered deep into Ren’s eyes, scrutinizing them once more. Suddenly, the ecstatic smile vanished, replaced by an inscrutable, cold stoicism.

  “You are not him...” the old monk muttered to himself. “Lord Shiva possesses emerald-green eyes, unlike yours, which are azure. You are not Shiva... Then who are you to bear such a striking resemblance? How did you find this place? And what is your purpose in venturing so far to uncover this sanctum?” Tenzin asked slowly, a chilling smile creeping across his face.

  “But let me warn you... I cannot allow you to touch anything within these walls! It is my duty to guard Lord Shiva’s treasures with my very life. Therefore, if you are not Shiva, then leave this place at once!”

  As those words left his lips, his once-raspy voice became thunderous and fiercely aggressive. Suddenly, Master Tenzin’s withered, skeletal frame underwent a miraculous transformation! His skin began to glow with a healthy flush, and his muscle mass surged, expanding rapidly into powerful, defined sinews. Veins bulged and pulsed across his arms, neck, and head—like a god of war awakening from a long slumber.

  The sight of the elderly monk transforming into a formidable warrior made Cris, Yuri, and Victor go pale with terror. They scrambled back toward the cave’s entrance to find their footing. Meanwhile, the two giant white bulls, previously so friendly, suddenly moved to flank Master Tenzin. They snorted with primal fury, hooves thudding against the ground and kicking up clouds of dust, ready to crush any intruder at the guardian’s command.

  Waves of searing heat radiated from Master Tenzin’s body, warping the surrounding air and sending dust exploding outward in a wide radius. Suddenly, the muscular frame—still in a kneeling position—launched into a mid-air assault, striking at Ren with a speed far beyond what any human eye could track!

  “He’s too fast! I’ve never seen Master like this before... what on earth is happening?!” Cris shouted in a panic, his eyes fixed on the clash that looked like flashes of strobing light.

  Amidst the frenzied multi-directional strikes, Ren moved with absolute fluidity, evading every blow perfectly. No matter how many punches or kicks Tenzin unleashed from his blind spots, Ren tilted and swayed past them by a hair’s breadth, as if he were reading the future itself.

  “Stop this at once! Or you will surely die... this body has already reached its ultimate limit!” Ren warned, weaving through the attacks without ever striking back.

  Meanwhile, the two giant bulls attempted to join the fray, but the chains tethered to the gate yanked them back until they were taut. That violent recoil forced the two massive, heavy doors to slam shut as they were before. The sound of steel crashing against stone thundered throughout the cavern.

  “Are you trying to kill yourself?!” Ren shouted with grim intensity, realizing his opponent was rapidly incinerating his own life force.

  “Since this isn't enough... then I am left with only one way!” Master Tenzin, in his warrior form, let out a thunderous roar. His glowing skin suddenly flushed a deep, crimson red—the color of raw blood. His body began to swell and bloat into a grotesque, distorted shape. Immeasurable energy was being compressed within him, causing the air to tremble violently within a five-meter radius as he hovered, maintaining his stance before Ren.

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  “Forgive me, Lord Shiva... I have done all that I can. My power is spent. I must execute the final command you entrusted to me: if it cannot be preserved, it must be utterly destroyed... Forgive me, Cris.”

  Master Tenzin turned to look at his favorite disciple with eyes full of resignation and a final farewell. Suddenly, his bloated, crimson body detonated with cataclysmic destructive force, intending to incinerate every life within the cavern along with his duty.

  But then, a miracle defying all laws of physics occurred!

  The explosion, which should have radiated outward, was suddenly compressed within a mysterious circular boundary of only ten meters. Ren drifted back slightly, his hands moving with calm precision to contain the surging mass of energy. The boiling sphere of destruction began to shrink... smaller and smaller... as if being sucked into an invisible gravitational well. Finally, all that madness condensed into a single, perfect orb, floating serenely in the palm of Ren’s hand.

  Cris and his companions stood frozen, their hearts nearly skipping a beat in the deafening silence that followed.

  “Master! What happened?! Why is it like this?!” Cris cried out at the top of his lungs, his grief surging to its breaking point.

  “Your Master is dead...” Ren stated flatly, his voice so calm it bordered on cold-blooded. His gaze remained fixed on the orb in his hand.

  “Why did you do this?! Why did you kill him?! Who are you, really?!” Cris roared through his tears. He couldn't accept the loss unfolding right before him. Victor and Yuri, equally horrified, rushed to stand by Cris's side, trying to comfort their friend while casting fierce, distrustful glares at Ren—the man they once trusted, who now appeared as an executioner who had just snatched away a precious life.

  “Everyone, stay calm... your Master fought me with the utmost courage and sacrifice,” Ren said, his voice steady yet commanding, amidst the thunderous clanging of chains from the two giant bulls that were still frantically trying to charge him.

  “I have read your Master’s mind... his duty was to guard and protect this place with absolute strictness. He was willing to sacrifice his own life just to see me dead. Even if all of you had to perish with him, or if this entire sanctuary was reduced to rubble within this mountain, he was ready to do it to keep this secret safe.”

  Ren paused for a moment, staring at the orb in his palm, which contained a faint, flickering light.

  “But I saw his intent... He was a noble monk who held his vows sacred. I did not want his death to be in vain, so I have already preserved his soul...”

  Cris began to stop sobbing, listening to a revelation that contained a truth he had never known.

  “And his name wasn't Tenzin... He is Bringi, a priest of incomparable loyalty to his lord—the very Shiva he was calling out for just moments ago.”

  As Ren’s words echoed, a mystical aura seemed to permeate the entire cavern. The two raging white bulls suddenly fell silent. They ceased their aggression and lowered their heads, as if sensing that their master’s soul still lingered, and the figure before them might not be the enemy they had first perceived.

  A deep, resonant voice boomed from the front of the colossal stone gates.

  “If you are not Shiva, then how is it that you look so strikingly like him... isn't that right, O-ku, my brother?” the first pure white bull turned to ask the one beside him, his voice thundering through the air.

  “It is true, brother... when he moved close to whisper in my ear, both his tone and his accent were identical to our Lord, brother Nonthi!”

  The two bull siblings conversed amongst themselves as if they had forgotten there were humans standing right there. The excitement previously felt by Cris, Victor, and Yuri surged to another level upon hearing the cattle speak so articulately, especially while questioning Ren’s identity.

  Ren looked up at the two gargantuan bulls before shouting back in a voice that was calm yet resonant enough for everyone to hear clearly.

  “We of the Tefa race all look very much alike! If you don’t look closely or observe us from a near distance, it’s easy to mistake one for another... Furthermore, sensing one's 'Power Level' is a much clearer indicator of who is who!”

  Ren’s answer didn't just ease the curiosity of the twin bulls; it also revealed a crucial secret to Cris and his companions—that Ren himself is of the Tefa race, a people whose appearance so closely resembles the Great God Shiva that even close associates like Bringi or gatekeepers like Nonthi and O-ku could hardly tell them apart.

  “Now... where could it be?”

  Ren murmured just loud enough for everyone to hear. He took to the air once again, his sharp gaze scanning the vast cavern for specific coordinates. “Ah, there... by the thicket at the very edge of the cave wall!”

  With a sudden burst of speed, he streaked toward his target. Cris, Yuri, and Victor followed closely, their curiosity laced with a lingering sense of dread. Below them, nestled within the dense undergrowth against the frigid stone wall, lay a gargantuan Stone King Cobra. The massive carving sat coiled and motionless, exuding an aura of ancient, formidable power.

  The moment Ren’s feet touched the ground, he didn't hesitate. He approached the monolith immediately, leaning in to whisper a cryptic language into the stone cobra’s ear—words understood by no one else.

  Suddenly, the sharp CRACK of fracturing stone echoed! Cris tried to intervene, unsure of what Ren was about to unleash, but he was too late.

  The thick outer layer of stone began to splinter and flake away, revealing shimmering, iridescent scales pulsing with life beneath. Eyes that had been blind stone ignited with a brilliant, sentient glow, staring intensely at the group. As the last of the stone husk fell away, the resurrected titan slithered toward Ren, locking eyes with him for a fleeting moment.

  Then, with a swift flick of its powerful tail, the cobra coiled around a massive, concealed iron lever and yanked it back with primal force!

  RUMBLEEEEE!

  The sound of ancient subterranean machinery ground into life, vibrating throughout the entire cavern. The moment the giant serpent completed its task, the earth at the center of the forest—the very spot where the debris from the simulated sun had fallen—split wide open. It revealed a hidden passage leading down into the darkness... the ultimate secret shared only between Cris and Master Tenzin.

  “You are not Shiva... yet you spoke the correct cipher, so I must comply,” the giant serpent hissed in a raspy, gravelly tone, retreating to clear the path for the group.

  Meanwhile, the two massive bulls at the entrance erupted into a fresh frenzy, attempting to charge once more. The heavy chains groaned, yanking against the stone gates with a violent, earth-shaking resonance that thundered throughout the entire cavern.

  “You foolish snake!” the twin bulls bellowed in unison, their voices laced with primal fury at the serpent for granting a stranger access to the hidden depths.

  “Return to your slumber... and do not seal this passage until I command otherwise,” Ren ordered the serpent in a voice that was calm yet absolute. He then took to the air, soaring directly toward the dark maw of the passage at the center of the forest.

  But this time, Cris refused to let him proceed unchecked! The young man streaked through the air, intercepting Ren and blocking his path. His eyes were ablaze with the fires of righteous indignation.

  “I’m willing to fight to the death for my Master, too! If you intend to interfere with anything else here... you’ll have to go through me first!” Cris roared, his voice thick with grim determination. Victor and Yuri didn't hesitate; they immediately soared up, flanking Cris to form a united front.

  “You’ve gone way too far this time!” Yuri added, her voice trembling with profound disappointment.

  Cris gritted his teeth, unleashing every ounce of power within him until the very atmosphere began to tremble. Yuri refused to back down as well, centering her focus and straining to manifest her energy to stand firmly by Cris’s side. Only Victor, unskilled in such feats, could do nothing but retreat behind Yuri, looking utterly bewildered and out of his depth.

  “I’ll explain later... you’re all too agitated right now, you wouldn't understand,” Ren said flatly.

  With a sudden, sharp flick of his wrist, he snatched at the empty air. Instantly, the three of them were pinned in place by a colossal, invisible force. Cris, Yuri, and Victor found themselves paralyzed, suspended in mid-air as if bound by spectral ropes.

  “This is the last of my strength... it should be enough to get us to the destination,” Ren murmured, his voice now audibly trembling and laced with exhaustion. His face had grown significantly paler, yet he maintained his grip on the invisible tethers binding the three of them, forcing them to drift alongside him as they descended into the circular abyss at the center of the forest.

  The opening was approximately five meters wide, looking as dark and cavernous as a bottomless elevator shaft. They all plummeted into the darkness, led by Ren, whose own power was rapidly flickering toward its end.

  Deep within the subterranean passage of Mount Kailash.

  Amidst the consuming darkness of the deep shaft, Ren guided the three drifting bodies downward with steady control. Cris, Yuri, and Victor could only exchange glances filled with stifled frustration and confusion. They struggled to shout or demand answers, but not a single sound escaped their throats. Ren’s power had sealed their lips tight, as if bound by an intangible sorcery.

  Finally, their feet touched the cold ground of the chamber below...

  It was another vast hall. Though not as expansive as the simulated forest above, it was permeated with a chilling, solemn atmosphere. What greeted their eyes made all three of them nearly stop breathing.

  Twenty towering Life Capsules stood lined up in the gloom. Ren’s eyes scanned each one with clinical precision.

  In the first five capsules, human forms appeared to be in deep slumber. The next six held the bodies of Tefa beings—stately and elegant, yet appearing utterly soulless. More startling still were the following six capsules, which contained bizarre hybrids between man and beast... including a formidable, half-human, half-elephant entity, and a woman with skin as pitch-black as a demon from ancient myth.

  Leaving two capsules empty, Ren walked directly toward the final one, which held yet another human figure confined within.

  “This is the one...” Ren spoke, his voice low but resonating throughout the silent hall, ensuring everyone understood the true objective he had struggled to reach.

  Ren scanned the plaque positioned at the front of the final capsule before reciting the name in a Tefa dialect that sounded both ancient and sacred: “Bringi... Bringi...”

  He reached out, his fingers dancing across the complex interface of the control panel. Suddenly, the hiss of the hydraulic system signaled its activation. The life-sustaining fluid within the capsule began to recede, draining rapidly through the pipes as the glass canopy slid open. Revealed within was a young man with a robust, athletic physique—a stark contrast to the frail, withered form of the elderly Lama that had recently perished. His body was interlaced with a web of tubes and sensors monitoring his vital signs.

  Ren didn't hesitate. He took the spirit orb of Master Tenzin, which he had been cradling in his palm, and pressed it gently against the young man’s chest.

  In a mere moment, the faint light from the orb bled into the body within the capsule. The young man jolted violently, his consciousness snapping back into focus amidst the shock and the searing pain of his physical re-adaptation. However, the life-support tethers held him firm, preventing his body from collapsing onto the floor.

  Cris, Yuri, and Victor—still bound by Ren’s invisible tether—witnessed this miracle in stunned silence. Their initial rage was swiftly supplanted by bewilderment and the weight of a reality they could scarcely comprehend. Sensing that the three had finally regained their composure, Ren made a sharp, subtle flick of his hand, instantly dissolving the energy bonds that had paralyzed their bodies and silenced their lips.

  “Stay where you are... actually, go find some clothes for him,” Ren commanded, his voice level but laced with a subtle undercurrent of concern.

  “I’ve got it!” Cris blurted out instantly. He streaked away to fetch the garments, his intimate familiarity with the sanctum allowing him to know exactly where everything was cached.

  Ren swept his gaze across the subterranean hall. The space was cluttered with an assortment of ancient relics and personal effects strewn about in disarray, yet there was not a single speck of dust or grime to be found. His eyes locked onto an old wooden table, and with a flick of his mind, he telekinetically glided it toward his position, forcing Victor and Yuri to scramble out of its path.

  He continued to orchestrate every movement with the dwindling remnants of his mental strength. The life-support tethers that had bound the young man within the capsule were gently disengaged. The newly resurrected warrior lacked even the strength to twitch a finger, so Ren used his power to levitate the body, easing it onto the prepared wooden table.

  At that exact moment, Cris returned, breathless, clutching blankets and several layers of clothing. Ren made a sharp gesture, snatching a cloth through the air to wrap it around the man’s bare form, shielding him from the chill.

  “You have done exceptionally well... you are but a mere mortal, yet you have accomplished so much... Bringi.”

  Ren spoke with genuine admiration as he reached out, resting his hand gently upon the head of Bringi—the young vessel of Master Tenzin that had been preserved for ages. It was a touch imbued with profound respect for a loyal warrior’s heart. Cris, Victor, and Yuri could only stand in stunned silence, witnessing the scene with emotions that defied description. Not a single word was uttered by anyone.

  The accumulated exhaustion from wielding immense power—starting from the arduous journey to breaching Mount Kailash, and finally, to paralyzing three high-speed entities—had pushed Ren nearly beyond his breaking point. His physical form was now visibly deteriorating. He slowly sank to the floor, crossing his legs in a meditative posture beside the bed where the rejuvenated Bringi lay recovering.

  Ren lifted his pallid face, locking eyes with Cris, Victor, and Yuri with a gaze of unyielding resolve.

  “Now... is the moment I am at my weakest,” Ren rasped, his voice thin and strained. “If you still harbor doubts about me, you can kill me right now. Because once I regain my full strength, you will lose that chance forever. Your power... is still worlds apart from mine.”

  Following that blunt defiance, Ren immediately plunged into a deep meditative trance to begin his restoration. He became as still as a stone carving, leaving behind only an awkward, heavy silence.

  “Lord Shiva... I failed to guard your treasures. But who is this deity...? His aura is as radiant as yours, Lord Shiva...”

  Bringi murmured to himself, his voice still trembling. He glanced back and forth between the motionless form of Ren and the group of Cris, Victor, and Yuri, who stood surrounding his bed with eyes full of questions and profound wonder.

  The Celestial Junkyard Beneath Mount Kailash

  Deep within the enigmatic subterranean vault, hidden far below the very foundations of Mount Kailash, lay countless mysteries yet to be unraveled. The surroundings resembled a gargantuan ancient storehouse, packed to the brim with innumerable artifacts. From this central hall, various passageways branched out, leading into several other hidden chambers.

  Though these objects were strewn about in cluttered disarray, they bore no trace of dust or grime as one might expect. Each item piled within the mounds appeared so ancient that its value was beyond measure. Some possessed bizarre, surreal forms—far surpassing any invention born of human ingenuity on Earth.

  They looked like the wreckage of extraterrestrial technology, shattered and rendered useless. Lustrous metallic components that had lost their glow, fractured crystalline circuit boards, and mechanical constructs too complex to comprehend lay intermingled with ordinary ancient relics. It was as if this secret chamber beneath Mount Kailash served as a tomb, preserving the fragments of a galactic civilization—waiting for the day someone would return to rouse them from their long slumber.

  ————————————————————————— Ruth VT-Hin —————————